By Chris Taylor
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-913799.mp3
Madisonville, KY – It literally takes an act of congress or in this case the state legislature to pass a road plan. While some communities still seek state funding for needed infrastructure changes, a planned three million dollar project in Madisonville is upsetting some residents because they feel the work is unneeded. Regardless, officials behind the project plan to move ahead with it. In this updated report from the weekend. Chris Taylor takes us down College Drive to hear why residents, including the Mayor don't see the need for it.
College Drive is roughly a mile long. Trees and well-manicured lawns front 19 homes lining either side of the two-lane highway. It gently winds from US-41 toward the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts and other Madisonville community college facilities. Several neighborhood residents say a state plan to widen the roadway is unnecessary and unwanted. Glenda Thornton is one of those. Her home was one of the first built along College Drive 21 years ago.
Thornton- A beautiful neighborhood: people who take pride in the appearance of their homes. Almost rural in setting even though it is in the city, and three lanes would definitely make it look commercial.
College Drive currently lacks sidewalks and lighting, which is included in the $3 million state road plan.
Thornton- Every college drive resident that I'm aware of would be thrilled with sidewalks and lights.
The lack of which doesn't stop the many pedestrians who already walk and jog the street daily. Thornton says the only caveat to the plan is the added lane.
Thornton- A three-lane highway would only increase the risk of a safety issue and the possibility of accidents.
Thornton worries drivers may use the center lane to pass other drivers. She would like to see College Drive's current 45 mile per hour speed limit brought down a notch. That's something Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Spokesman Keith Todd says happens anyway when sidewalks, curbs and gutters are installed.
Todd- That generally tends to slow down traffic because people kind of get the impression that they're in a more urban setting and that there should be a slower speed limit.
Todd says adding those elements actually tend to slow traffic rather than speed it up. He points out turning lanes don't usually increase safety risks, but reduce them.
Todd- When you pull into the center turn lane, It gives you a neutral territory there to make a left turn so you don't have to worry about people running into the back of your car.
A center turn lane will also improve traffic flow simply because people won't need to stop. Todd says traffic on College Drive is substantial for its size and justifies a turning lane. He estimates around 4,500 vehicles drive on it every day, most of which travels to and from Madisonville Community College.
The school's Dean of Business Affairs Ray Gillaspie says the institution's interest is all about improving traffic flow and safety for both the college and residents.
Gillaspie- Since this is a Department of Transportation project, we don't have any preconceived notions on what the roadway should look like, but certainly would want it to serve the college and community for the next 15-20 years.
Gillaspie says this is an opportunity for neighboring residents and the college to input their preference on what the end product should look like. Keith Todd says the project has been under consideration for several years now and that it should come as no surprise to nearby residents. The project was added in 2008 to the state's 6-year road plan.
Madisonville Mayor Will Cox says that plan is more like a 25-year one because the Commonwealth has more projects than it can pay for.
Cox- What surprises a lot of people is that of all the projects for Hopkins County that are in the plan, for this project to be the one that seemed to jump over a bunch of other ones and go to the top of the list.
Cox says many in Madisonville are beginning to wonder if some favoritism is at play. Madisonville Community College President Dr. Judy Rhoads is the wife of the project's legislative sponsor, state Senator Jerry Rhoads.
Cox- I would like to see as mayor and frankly as a taxpayer, that there's some kind of plan and that projects don't just come out of the blue because of who you're married to or for any other reason that's not based on some kind of objective criteria.
Cox says the project with the furthest reaching impact on safety and traffic congestion should be the one funded first. He points out a lack funds to build sidewalks where elementary students walk in ditches to and from school on Grapevine and Brown Roads. Cox also suggests widening parts of North Main Street and US41-A would have a greater impact than the College Drive project.
In a written statement issued Monday, Senator Rhoads says he's confident neighboring residents' concerns will be felt in the final design of the project. He makes no mention of the project's funding precedence over other planned works.
Even though the state has allocated funding, the work may be a long way off. Keith Todd says it could be as long as two to four years before the project becomes a reality.